Pitdog's New Boat Anchor

pitdog said:
Holy sh*t Vic that's an awesome looking edge, now ya got me really excited to check it out !!!!

As for who Tom Brown is, he's a legend Vic, he's also a very controversial character who a lot of people feel exagerates the truth. Whether what he says is true or not really doesn't interest me because he is still one of the main reasons I get " out there " as much as I do as often as I do !!!!

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So now ya see why I want to try out that anchor, and don't worry there will be plenty of pretty pics !!!;):thumbup:
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I'll get it out within a week for sure, pit. I had it out to ship it today and then I saw my new Delta sander sitting there and thought, what the heck, I'll give it a bigger convex grind and let pit check it out. I bet the original Tom Brown Tracker was thinner and lighter. It will at least chop now. I tested it out back.
 
wow.. what a cool gift to get...:eek: right on...:thumbup: pitdog and maisy are going to be excited...:D

i have never liked those knives very much at all... they're rediculously heavy...:thumbdn:
 
For the legend that Tom Brown is, I always wondered what the heck he was thinking with his knife choice. Cosmetically it looks terrible(ugliest knife I've ever seen!), and functionally it looks impractical.
 
To me, the tracker always seemed to be one knife trying to do too many things.

I have a feeling it probably worked for Tom Brown, because he designed it to workt he way he works.

We all have different tastes in knives because the way we do things is different, and calls for different tools.

The WSK isn't my cup of tea, but I'm sure it works for someone. Heck, I know a guy that uses a Rambo knife (no, not just a big knife, but an actual First Blood Part II knife) as his field knife and kicks ass with it, so who knows?
 
I've been tempted by this knife for some time now, does anyone know if the Red Scorpion Six Raven model exceeds the TOPS version for cutting tasks?
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cuphead, please, please do not give RS6 any of your money! His knives are China made knives that cost probably $20-40 to produce.

As for your question, NEITHER the TOPS nor RS6 knives are good for cutting tasks. Get a more traditional design.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
To me, the tracker always seemed to be one knife trying to do too many things.

I have a feeling it probably worked for Tom Brown, because he designed it to workt he way he works.

We all have different tastes in knives because the way we do things is different, and calls for different tools.

The WSK isn't my cup of tea, but I'm sure it works for someone. Heck, I know a guy that uses a Rambo knife (no, not just a big knife, but an actual First Blood Part II knife) as his field knife and kicks ass with it, so who knows?
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Good point, Cpl. I like bowies, kukris and machetes myself. I use folders for the finer work. Maybe pitdog can demonstrate some of the Tom Brown techniques with the Tracker. At least it is much sharper now than it was when I got it. I hope he can get some use out of it. It just doesn't work as well for me as more conventional designs.
 
Does the Tracker kinda remind anyone else of a shortened Latin machete? This looks more functional to me, atleast. But what do I know, never personally handled one. I've only followed the controvarsy online...

 
I've seen a couple of pictures of Pit, it looks like he might have worked out once or twice in his life. He should be strong enough to carry it up a hill, but pictures are always preferred! :D
 
Very generous of you, indeed, HD!

I've handled a few TOPS knives at Blade, and really wasn't impressed with the designs or the sharpness from the factory. A knife that's 3/4" wide and 1/4" thick just doesn't cut it for me (no pun intended) and the WSK design is pretty far-out. I drew up something with a similar concept as far as grind is concerned once, but it certainly wasn't meant to be practical.

Let us know how you like it, Pit, and if you find it useful at all. I'd be interested to know how that goes. ;)
 
Noss destruction tested one of these (or a variant?), if anyone is interested its on youtube.
 
gunknifenut said:
..the original (BECK)was a sleak design, and it works..I own a close copy that funtions in all its required cutting tasks, just like any knife..only it chops better than most knives in the same length..(6" blade).


I understand that traditional guys dont like them..they look pretty spacey, but they DO work.

Anyway...here I am again..defending the WSK..I dont know why I bother...I guess I just cant believe that it doesnt make sense in the "one knife" catagory to most guys here...but then again..the Nessmuk is a wierd design to me, that doesnt do anything for me...that puts me in the minority all around , HUH???:D
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Hey Gene, it may surprise you, but I agree. I had the opportunity to handle 2 different Becks and I really liked them. I didn't get to use them, though, so that may have been a different story.

I also agree about the Nessmuck design (no disrespect to any of the wonderful makers on this forum that make them, of course). That design does nothing for me either.

Of course, that just puts you and me in the minority. :o

Doc
 
HornDog is a very generous guy. He also sent me a few military knives with his trademark
VERY sharp convex edge. They have become some of the most valued knives in my collection. The classic Ontario USMC has become a particular favorite and even though I have much more expensive and "cool" knives it is becoming the one i reach for when I go out to the bush. The leather handle and sheath and 1095 steel with that wicked edge just have the same feel as an old leather jacket or a pair of worn in levis and the fact that it belonged to a good friend just makes it perfect. It is also a surprisingly good bushcrafter.


OK I HATE the Tom Brown TOPS knife but I will play devils advocate.
In fairness the knife was not designed to win beauty contests(obviously) but it was designed to do a few very specific tasks that Tom has identified as being important for outdoors survival. Another hideously ugly blade with a very similar look is that Ontario
machete. It also has that stepped edge for specific things involving using wood.

Now I am also reasonably sure that the custom version of the knife is a lot better. While a lot of us here prefer a thin blade I can see having a sturdy knife for survival use.
Another knife this reminds me of is the Pilots survival knife which coincidentally Horn Dog sent me as well. Same steel 1095 ,same almost useless saw back which does work as a rasp for trap making. The Pilots knife has a nice hammer pommel though and is a much
much cheaper knife. Mine also has a wicked sharp HD edge.

At least it wasn't as expensive as the Bear Grylls knife.

If I was going to guess which Tops HD would buy it would have been the Armageddon
or maybe the Longhorn bowie. I would love a custom Armageddon.


EDIT
I did not see the video before i posted but it sure looked like the guy could make good use out of both the stepped edge and the forward weight for chopping.
My theory is that if you put a good edge on it and most importantly your techniques match the knife it could be a good tool. I picked up a CS TrailHawk today while in the big city(Saskatoon) and I would much rather have it than the Tracker. It also probably has a similar weight. I also noticed that the guy also had to sharpen the knife half way through. That is one of those decisions you have to make for a survival knife. Easy sharpening and toughness like 1095 or edge holding.

Coincidentally i was scraping off the stickers on the hawk with a Spyderco StreetBeat i got from Pit.
 
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Horn Dog said:
The sparks have been flying at the back porch grinder lately. I converted one of my Busse Sarquatches to a full convex Bowie.
bowie013.jpg



I know it is just the design. All TOPS knives can't be as bad as the Tracker. The steel is good and they are well made. But I just haven't had the nerve to buy another TOPS. I saw some at Blade that looked interesting.
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Damn that sarsquatch bowie looks sweet.:eek:

Nice work man!!!!!
 
cuphead said:
I've been tempted by this knife for some time now, does anyone know if the Red Scorpion Six Raven model exceeds the TOPS version for cutting tasks?
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it might, but his work is a touchy subject with some.....Alot of questions about quality, and his bussness practices came into question. He used to have a forum here. I guess he spammed alot and got banned.:confused:

I dont know the guy, and have never done any bussess with him, so I wont pass judgement, his might very well be the best design ever, I dunno.

I hate the design, and dont see it for much more then a gimmick. Thats my opinion though. To each his own.


I also hate Pukkos, and most scandi type knives.......(jake ducks) Design doesnt do anything for me, and I think they are ugly.

bushcrafter type blades are the only exception. (Kosters, Kalebs, B.Andrews etc.)
 
HD, you are setting the bar high. Very generous.

In regards to TOPS knives... They have some great designs but they are usually plagued by design elements that make them less useful, less comfortable, or poor cutters. the edges are usually way too think, they often have long false edges on the spine, and I find that many of the designs have weird jimping/traction grooves in all the wrong places - namely on the actual handle between the handle slabs. The Passaytan (not sure of the spelling) Traveller has a TON of potential. But TOPS managed to leave the edge too thick on that one too even though it is 1/8\" thick and has a tall flat ground blade.

If they would turn out some decent edges, I would be more than willing to try some fo their designs.
 
Man what are you guys talking about? That is an awesome knife. Why just the other day I saw Benicio Del Toro throw his through a tree from like 50 feet away!
 
Yes, I counted 80 to beat that little sapling in half. That many strokes on standing green wood, even at 25 deg. is just silly. Any decent chopper, hatchet, or small folding saw would have had that on the ground in 1/2 the time. I don't even have a grudge against the knife, but that is definitely NOT good performance from an alleged "survival knife".
 
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